Shore power allows cruise ships to plug in to the city’s electrical grid while they’re docked in Juneau, which allows operators to turn off a ship’s engine and reduce emissions.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t
Princess Cruises has been able to connect to shore power at a dock since 2001, which made Juneau the first place in the world to offer the option. However, that’s the only dock in Juneau that offers shore power.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t
[Polluting paradise? Air monitors will help find out<\/a>]<\/ins><\/p>\n\t\t\t\t “Juneau was the first back in 2001, and that was 18-plus years ago,” said Andy Romanoff, board member for Renewable Juneau in a phone interview with the Juneau Empire. “Since then, other cities up and down the coast have done the same, and we should continue the process.”<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t Romanoff said the petition is not meant to be binding or to bring the matter to ballots.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t “It’s to demonstrate the level of public interest,” Romanoff said. “It’s just an awareness-generating tool for the city Assembly to get a more accurate sense of the level of concern out there in town.”<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t He said the petition had collected about 120 signatures as of Monday afternoon and the effort had started in earnest Saturday.<\/p>\n A button handed out by Renewable Juneau supports shore power, which allows cruise ships to avoid idling their engines by providing electricity from the shore. (Ben Hohenstatt | Juneau Empire)<\/p><\/div>\t\t\t\t The city manager’s recommended use of marine passenger fees for fiscal year 2020 does include some spending on shore power — $250,000 for a feasibility study. Marine passenger fee revenue is anticipated to be $6 million in fiscal year 2020, according to a memo from the city manager’s office.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t “The whole purpose would be to make sure the public understands the consequences,” said City Manager Rorie Watt in a phone interview with the Juneau Empire. “What would it cost and what are the consequences pro and con.”<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t Romanoff said Renewable Juneau would prefer the city forego the study, which he characterized as a waste of time and money.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t Instead, Romanoff said he would prefer to see that money used to complete design work for increased shore power.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t He said cities — including Juneau, which had shore power feasibility study done in 2016 — have already done studies.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t [Local marijuana retailers like the idea of letting folks smoke onsite<\/a>]<\/ins><\/p>\n\t\t\t\t![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.juneauempire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/16508046_web1_Button.jpg\")
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